Understanding High School Assessment: 

A Guide for Parents

As parents, we all want to understand how our children are doing in school and how their hard work turns into the grades on their report cards. In Ontario secondary schools, teachers follow a Ministry of Education policy document called Growing Success. This guide translates that professional policy into everyday language so you know exactly how your teen is being supported, assessed, and evaluated.

The Primary Purpose: Growth and Success

First and foremost, the main goal of assessment is not just to assign a number—it is to improve student learning. Teachers use assessments throughout the semester to see where students are succeeding, where they need extra help, and how to adjust classroom instructions to make sure no student is left behind.

 How Grades Are Determined: "Most Recent" and "Consistent" Evidence

Many of us grew up with a "traditional" grading system where every single test, quiz, and assignment from day one was averaged together. Ontario's Growing Success policy works differently because learning is a process. Instead of simple mathematical averaging, teachers look for consistency and recent performance:

• Focusing on Growth: If a student struggles with a concept in October but fully masters it by January, their final grade should reflect that they eventually learned it. A poor mark from early in the semester shouldn't penalize them if they've proven they understand the material now. Teachers use their professional judgement to determine this as they work through the semester with your child.

• Consistent Patterns: The teacher looks for a steady, reliable pattern in your child’s work. Using their professional judgement, they evaluate whether your teen can successfully demonstrate their skills over and over again, rather than basing a grade on one single "bad day."

Triangulation: Looking Beyond Paper and Pencil

To get the most accurate picture of what your child actually knows, secondary teachers do not rely solely on written tests or final products. Instead, they use a process called Triangulation. This means collecting evidence of learning from three different types of sources:

By blending these three pieces together, teachers can give alternative ways for your child to show their strengths, ensuring that a student who struggles with written tests but can perfectly explain a concept out loud still has a fair path to success.

Why Daily Attendance is Essential

Because triangulation relies heavily on observations and conversations, daily school attendance is incredibly critical. If a student is frequently absent, they miss out on the daily interactions, spontaneous discussions, and guided practice that teachers use to collect real-time evidence of learning. When your child is present every day, they provide their teacher with a rich, continuous body of evidence. This daily presence allows the teacher to use their professional judgment to accurately evaluate your child's true capabilities and award a final assessment that genuinely matches their hard work and progress.

If you have any questions about your child’s assessment please connect with their classroom teacher.